Chapter 2. Lecture Notes - Public Speaking

Public Speaking Chapter 2 1. DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE Confidence separates the effective from the ineffective public speaker. Confidence also seems to separate the speaker who experiences enjoy ment from the speaker who feels only discomfort and anxiety Fortunately, confidence is a quality that everyone can develop and inorease Here are a few suggestions for developing your self‘cenfidenne as a public speaker. -Prepare Thoroughly Preparation is probably the major factor in instilling confidence in a speak. or as it is in reducing apprehension Preparation includes everything you do from the time you begin thinking about your speech to the time you deliver it The more you know about your topic and your audience the more confident you'll feel and the more confidence you'll project. Thorough preparation will also lesson any l‘uars you might have of not being able to answer audience questions. -Familiarize Yourself with the Public Speaking Sitation Familiarize yourself with the arrangement of the room in which you'll speak the type of audience you'll address, and so on Familiarity with any situation increases your ability to control it The public speaking situation is no exception Perhaps a day or two before you're to speak stand in front of the room and look it over try to imagine the entire speaking situation as it will be when you deliver your speech then, when you do go to the front of the room to give your first speech you‘ll face the familiar instead of the iniexpected If possible Rehearse in the room in which you'll give your speech. -Develop the Desire to Communicate Avoid rehearsingifear responses (I‘m going to forget my speech No one will like : my speech. I'm young loilook foolish) Replace any thoughts of fear With thoughts of control Replace selcritical statements with thoughts of confidence Tell yourself Uiat the experience can be an enjoyable one it really can be ! With time You’ll find that you're operating with a more positive and confident view of the entire public speaking experience. -Rehearse Rehearsing your speech and its presentation and thus sensing your control over it will increase self-confidence Rehearse your speech often and aloud If possible Rehearse in front of a few supportive listeners. Rehearsals that approximate the actual speaking situation will especiall help reduce the novelty of the situation and will help build your contidonce as a public speaker. Rehearse your speech as a confident Fully in-coutrol public speaker Rehearse with a positive attitude and perspective When you then present the actual speech You‘ll find that you can present the speech as you rehearsed it. with confidence, Each public speaking experience like each rehearsal should add to your self confidence After five or six speeches You should be looking forward to future speaking engagements. -Engage in Self-Affirmation Because the way you talk to and about yourself will influence what you think of yourself It’s often helpful to engage in self-affirmation Try telling yetu‘self that you're competent and that you'll be successful Read through the list of self-affirming phrases presented here and try to feel what they're attempting to convey. - l'm a generally competent person and Speaker. - l have some good personality characteristics that will come across effectively in public speaking. - Neither I nor my speech have to be loved by everyone. - i am worthwhile listening to because I‘m me. - My past failures and inadequacies don't have to influence everything I do. - i am creative and that will come across in my speaking. - i think critically and will be able to analyze and present complex ideas to others. -I'm a self-starter. -I can be effective in most things I do, including public speaking -I'm flexible and can adjust to different situation and different audience response. -Proiect Your Confidence Throughout your speech, try to project your confidence ; make the audience see you as a mnfident. fully-in-control speaker. Here are a few suggestions : -Remain emotionally controlled if the audience sees you allowing eurotions to get the best of you you'll appear lacking in confidence. -Avoid Weak verbal expressions. For example, asking for agreement with tag questions "it seems like a good idea, don't you think ?" or using lots of indefinite modifiers such as "pretty good" or "fairly inexpensive" will make your audience see your message and yourself as less sure and less confident than you'd want At the same time, avoid weak nonverbals. Self-touching movements playing with your hair touching your face, or aimlessly shifting from one foot to the other will also make you seem to lack confidence. -Demonstrate your own consistency ; show your audience that you have the confidence in your own convictions to stick with them over time. -Develop a Communicator Self-Image A "communicator self-image" implies a view of yourself as a capable. Proficient. And tonfident comnnmicator See yourself as an advocate who is effective in getting your message across to others Think of yourself as a confident public speaker in addition, act as a confident speaker would For example, maintain eye contact with your listeners and stand tall. Acting confident will go a long way toward actually increasing your confidence. This process occurs in three steps : (1) You act as if you're confident (Z) You come to think of yourself as confident (3) You become confident. Build your positive qualities by acting as if you already have them This "acting as if" will help you make these positive qualities : 1 more integral part of your thoughts and behaviors.